Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 13:17

"And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:" — Exodus 13:17 (ASV)

THE DIRECTION OF THE MARCH

God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines. — In Exodus 13:17-19, the writer interposes some parenthetical remarks. These are not a continuation of the narrative interrupted (Exodus 12:42), but rather reflections that occur to him.

The journey began at Tanis or Rameses in the Eastern Delta, not far from the sea. The writer observes that the shortest, and apparently easiest, route for the Israelites to have pursued would have been along the coast. This route led from Tanis to Pelusium, then from there to Rhinocolura, and from Rhinocolura to Gaza, Ascalon, and Ashdod, the chief towns of the Philistines.

The distance along this line was not more than about 200 miles and could have been accomplished in about two weeks. He anticipates the question: Why did they not pursue this route? The reply is that this was not God's will. The reason it was not His will is further given: The people would probably have repented when they saw war, and would have returned to Egypt.

This implies that the Philistines were already a strong and warlike people, as they may well have been, though not mentioned in contemporary Egyptian monuments. The Egyptians mention very few Syrian nations by name, and the few names they do record can seldom be identified.

Although that was near. — Or rather, because that was near. God did not lead them that way because it was near, but chose another route.

When they see war. — If the Philistines are to be regarded as identical with the “Purusata” of Egyptian remains, they must be viewed as one of the most warlike peoples of the time. Even setting aside this identification—which is very uncertain—we must still view them as one of the most important tribes inhabiting the lower Syrian region.

In Joshua’s time, they already possessed their five strong fortresses: Gaza, Ascalon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron (Joshua 13:3). During the period of the Judges, they rose to a leading position in the Palestinian region.

Palestine derives its name from them and would not have acquired this name unless they had been a very remarkable people. We can well understand that the Israelites, after four centuries of slavery, would have been an ill match for the Philistines. If defeated or intimidated, they might have felt that no course was open to them but to return to Egypt.